Objectives: Introduction Over View of System Analysis and Design
Over View of System Analysis and Design
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| 1.2 Over View of System Analysis and Design Systems development can generally bethought of as having two major components Systems analysis and Systems design. System design is the process of planning anew business system or one to replace or complement an existing system. But before this planning can be done, we must thoroughly understand the old system and determine how computers can best be used to make its operation more effective. System analysis, then, is the process of gathering and interpreting facts, diagnosing problems, and using the information to recommend improvements to the system. This is the job of the systems analyst. Consider, for example, the stockroom operation of a clothing store. To better control its inventory and gain access to more up – to – date information about stock levels and reordering, the store asks a system analyst, to computerize its stockroom operations. Before one can design a system to capture data, update files, and produce reports, one needs to know more about the store operations what forms are being used to store information manually, such as requisitions, purchase orders, and invoices and what reports are being produced and how they are being used. To proceed, you then seek out information about lists of reorder notices, outstanding purchase orders, records of stock on hand, and other reports. You also need to find out where this information originates, whether in the purchasing department, stockroom, or accounting department. In other words, you must understand how the existing system works and, more specifically, what the flow of information through the system looks like. You also must know why the store wants to change its current operations. Does the business have problems tracking orders, merchandise, or money Does it seem to fall behind in handling inventory records Does it need a more efficient system before it can expand operations Only after you have collected these facts can you being to determine how and where a computer information system can benefit all the users of the system. This accumulation of information, called a systems study, must precede all other analysis activities. Systems analysts do more than solve current problems. They are frequently called upon to help handle the planned expansion of a business. In the case of the clothing store, the systems study is future oriented, since no system currently exists. Analysts assess as carefully as possible what the future needs of the business will be and what changes should be considered to meet these needs. In this instance and inmost others, analysts may recommend alternatives for improving the situation. Usually more than one strategy is possible. Working with managers and employees in the organization, systems analysts recommend which alternative to adopt, based on such concerns as the suitability of the solution to the particular organization and setting, as well as the employee support the solution is likely to have. Sometimes the time required to develop one alternative, compared with others, is the most critical issue. Costs and benefits are also important determinants. In the end, management, which will pay for and use the result, actually decides which alternative to accept. Once this decision is made, a plan is developed to implement the recommendation. The plan includes all systems design features, such as new data capture needs, file specifications, operating procedures, equipment and personnel needs. The systems design is like the blueprint fora building it specifies all the features that are to be in the finished product. Designs for the stockroom will provide ways to capture data about orders and sales to customers and specify the way the data will be stored, whether on paper forms or on a computer – readable medium, such as magnetic tape or disk. The designs will also designate work to be performed by people and by computers. Designs vary in their division of human and computer tasks. The stockroom personnel will also need information about the business. Each design describes output to be produced by the system, such as inventory reports, sales analyses, purchasing summaries, and invoices. The systems analysts will actually decide which outputs to use, as well as how to produce them. Analysis specifies what the system should do. Design states how to accomplish the objective. Notice that each of the processes mentioned involves people. Managers and employees have good ideas about what works and what does not, about what flows smoothly and what causes problems, about where change is needed and where it is not, and especially about where change will be accepted and where it will not. Despite technology, people are still the keys that make the organizations work. Thus, communicating and dealing with people are very important parts of the systems analyst’s job. Download 0.94 Mb. Share with your friends:
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